Happy's Parade of Greens

[Shawn]

Sept 2, 2018 13:13:30 GMT -5 MaryL said:

They’re so cute at this adolescent stage. (Unlike human adolescents. )

You can say that again LOL

[Happy]

So far, I've had two kale plantings that I was unhappy with.
They were both so spindly... more stems than leaves. I terminated each of them when I couldn't stand to look at them any longer. (And I certainly don't want to post photos!)

The first was a sprouting kale from SproutPeople.
So I figured that I needed a dwarf kale.

The second was High Mowing Seeds brand Dwarf Green Curled Kale.
Same issue. 
It was in a new Ultra, so it should have had adequate light.

But I remember being successful with kale in years past, so I'm not giving up.
I'm going to try.High Mowing Seeds Dazzling Blue Kale and
Renee's Garden Tuscan Baby Leaf.

Do you know what varieties of kale you've been happy with?
Also, do you think it might be a good idea to keep the lights on 24 hrs/day?

[MaryL]

Gosh, I wish I could help but I haven’t grown kale in years.  I also am inexperienced with what light is best for greens, I’ve never had to deviate.  

But if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say that if it’s LED light as opposed to the CFL’s (I still use mine) it should be ok. The CFL would be too much heat 24 hours a day, I’d think.

[Happy]

Thanks, Mary.

In addition to High Mowing Seeds Dazzling Blue Kale and
Renee's Garden Tuscan Baby Leaf,
I'm going to try the Botanical Interest Italian Lacinato that you sent me.
Happy Labor Day!

[MaryL]

Happy Labor Day to you, too!  I do hope the seeds I sent work out.  I did have to stay on it to make sure I harvested the leaves before they wanted more than the 12” space (especially with my then-CFL bulb machines), but they worked.  Just sow more than I did per pod.

[MaryL]

What a beautiful composed salad. And I agree, the florets are very pretty - the other basils are too big to provide cuts like that.

[Happy]

Park Seed Purple Hybrid Pak Choi planted in my Harvest on August 27

[Shawn]

Pretty colors

[nick]

Sept 6, 2018 15:47:17 GMT -5 Happy said:

Park Seed Purple Hybrid Pak Choi planted in my Harvest on August 27

Oh I really like these! Glad I asked for a Park gift card after my anniversary thread win. Feeling like a lucky duck today.

decorative too!

[Shawn]

Aug 30, 2018 18:04:03 GMT -5 Happy said:

Johnny's Seeds Piccolino Basil.
Planted August 2 in my Harvest.
I've cut off some of the tops already. They make beautiful (and fragrant) mini-florettes.



I love these little florettes:

Can you give a description of their taste?  I can add it to the Flavors of Basil thread.

[Happy]

Hi Shawn,
I'd love to describe the taste, but my taste buds aren't up to the job.

All I can say is that I hate anise, and I enjoy the taste of this beautiful basil.
Johnny's says, "Genuine spicy, sweet Greek basil flavor."

[Shawn]

Ok thanks.  I will wait for Mark to taste it when it grows.  My taste buds are all messed up from the I131 radiation I had to take.  It killed off some and my taste has never been the same.  I have taste (or non-tasted) items that Mark and others said were flavorful and I literally tasted nothing.

[Happy]

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Shawn. Especially for a gardening enthusiast like yourself!

My taste buds have always been crummy... which might explain why I'm not a very good cook 
(I've tasted all the basils in AG's pod kit. They all taste the same to me except the lemon basil, which seemed very tart.)

[Shawn]

I am used to it after 7 years.  I can still taste many things but not their true tastes all the time.  There are times I taste nothing at all.  But I had two very high doses of it so that is why.  Usually does not happen with only one. 

That is ok, I still enjoy lots of taste and I can smell them with no issues

[Happy]

Wishing you a complete return to good health... taste buds and all. 

[Happy]

Johnny Seed Salvius planted August 20


Post-harvesting


Going strong on September 23

[ladyjane]

I admire all that you grow.  So much variety and good looks.  While my Harvest is taking a rest and me and the birds are resting from all the bright light that comes with growing with AG I still miss the lettuce.  Its fun to get up in the morning and see how much growth there has been.  Now I am waiting until after the storm Florence has left Maryland.  I should be getting the power back up this week sometime.  

[Shawn]

ladyjane, stay safe!

As for the bright lights, have you thought about making a curtain or barrier?  I have a curtain set up in one room and I made a Shade to place in front and in some cases behind.  It works wonders.

[ladyjane]

For the bright lights I put a double cover over the bird cage which works for the night time.  I have always been a low light person.    Thanks for the idea.


Maryland is only going to get some rain from Florence but we have been getting excessive rain for most of the summer this year.  Went grocery shopping yesterday and wanted to get distilled water.  To my surprise the entire isle of this major grocery store had no water in any form.  So no distilled water.  Now that I have the Aerogarden Harvest set up and have the back up battery in place - no water!  I will check the stores again tomorrow.  Walmart may have some.  Don't want to use tap water.   




I am going to grow curly parsley. beet greens, kale and 2 different basils in the back row.  Will them be computable to grow together in the harvest?